DESERT ISLAND BOOKS

As part of Words In The Square 175th anniversary celebrations we were joined by Ned Beauman, Philippa Gregory, Deborah Levy, John O' Farrell, Nikesh Shukla and Sara Wheeler in a hugely entertaining "Desert Island Books" session chaired by Tom Sutcliffe.

During a fascinating hour the panel was asked to nominate books in different categories that they would take with them as castaways on a desert island. An audience vote then picked the final winners. 

The winners 

Favourite Childhood Read: “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson-Burnett

The Book That Most Influenced Me: “A Room of One’s Own” – Virginia Woolf

Guilty Pleasure (the books they secretly rather enjoy): “These Old Shades” by Georgette Heyer

Former Favourites (which they now disown): “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell; “1984” by George Orwell

Recommended Recent Reads

Each member of the panel also selected their recent book recommendations:

“Family Life” by Akhil Sharma (chosen by Nikesh Shukla)

“Preparation for the Next Life” by Atticus Lish (chosen by Ned Beauman)

“Simple Gifts” by Joanne Greenberg (chosen by Philippa Gregory)

“Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter (chosen by John O’Farrell)

“The Lure of The North” by The London Library/Pushkin Press (chosen by Sara Wheeler)

“Outline by Rachel Cusk (chosen by Deborah Levy)

 What each member of the panel chose:

Ned Beauman

Favourite Childhood Read: “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson

The Books That Most Influenced Me: “Permutation City” by Greg Egan

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: “Blood House” by David Gatward (or p310-316 of any serial killer novel)

Former favourites which they now disown: “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway

Recommended recent books:  “Preparation for the Next Life” by Atticus Lish

Philippa Gregory

Favourite Childhood Reads: “Stalky & Co” by Rudyard Kipling

The Books That Most Influenced Me: “A Room of One’s Own” – Virginia Woolf

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: “These Old Shades” by Georgette Heyer

Former favourites which they now disown: “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell

Recommended recent books: “Simple Gifts” by Joanne Greenberg

Deborah Levy

Favourite Childhood Reads: “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson-Burnett

The Books That Most Influenced Me:  “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: “Chéri” or any novel by Colette

Former favourites which they now disown: “Women In Love” by DH Lawrence

Recommended recent books: “Outline” by Rachel Cusk

John O'Farrell

Favourite Childhood Reads: “Down with Skool” by Geoffrey Willans

The Books That Most Influenced Me: “Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K Jerome

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: “Frank Skinner” by Frank Skinner

Former favourites which they now disown: “1984” by George Orwell

Recommended recent books: “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter

Nikesh Shukla

Favourite Childhood Reads: Spiderman Comics

The Books That Most Influenced Me: “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” By Junot Diaz

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: “Modern Romance” by Aziz Ansari, Eric Klinenberg

Former favourites which they now disown:  “The scam poetry anthology where as a 13 year old Nikesh Shukla had his first poem published alongside 1000 others who had also paid £45 per entry”

Recommended recent books: “Family Life” by Akhil Sharma

Sara Wheeler

Favourite Childhood Reads: “Spring & Fall” from Poems, by Gerard Manley Hopkins

The Books That Most Influenced Me: “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Guilty Pleasure – the books they secretly rather enjoy: Any novel by Françoise Sagan

Former favourites which they now disown: “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” by TE Lawrence

Recommended recent books: “The Lure of The North” edited by The London Library/Pushkin Press